Beam tongs



Feb. 24, 1959 D. 1.. JANOFF 2,374,999

BEAM TONGS Filed Aug. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Daniel L. Junaff Filed Aug. 18, 1955 Fig.5.-

D. L. JANOFF BEAM TONGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Daniel L Junoff i which,

- Figure 1 United States Patent BEAM TONGS Daniel L. Janoff, Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor to Heppenstall Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 18, 1955, Serial No. 529,271

Claims. (Cl. 294-86) This invention relates to a new beam tongs. More particularly, it relates to such a tongs in which travelers are provided on a rigid beam in connected relation to load supporting links for firm reliable engagement and disengagement with a load.

In the present invention, a new beam tongs has been provided. A rigid beam is engaged on each side of the 1 center thereof by travelers which are caused to approach each other to close the tongs andto move away from each other to open the tongs. Load supporting links pivotally connected about a central axis extend downwardly and outwardly for preferably adjustable pivotal tion are relatively free from structuralcornplexity, are positive and firm in operation, and, if desired, are adjustable for cliiferentservices or loads which they may be called upon to takecare of.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the'following description and from the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative only, in

Figure 2 isa front view in elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with gagement with a load;

Figure 3 is an end view of such-tongs in theposition Figure 4 is a view taken along line IVIV of Figure i; it Figure 5 is aview. taken along line:VY of Figure 1; w

intheforegoingfiguresm :1 i i x 1 ifuaReferring .to the drawings, in one embodiment of is a-front view in elevation ofone embodiment of myinvention, with thenew tongs in opened position;

the tongs closed andin en- I therefrom to the chain line-position shown in that figure and then to open following a further such 90 degree romy new beam tongs, I provide downwardly and outwardly i extending load supporting pairs of links 11 and 12, the- I spacing in each such pair being from front to back and with the pair 11 being inwardly, as shown in theend viewin Figure 3, ofthe other pair 12. Such terms as front, back, side, fhorizontalfi fvertical and other directional terms which may. be used herein are relative, as will be understood, rather than absolute.

A shackle or clevis 13 having lower ends 14d may belprovided as a member by which to hang the new A stud 14 extends tongs 10ffrom a crane hook or other more primary piece of materials-handling equipment. "througlrregistering openingsat the upper ends of the kpairs of links ll and 12 and through registering open ings 'in the lower ends 14am clevis 13, nuts 15 being utilized with lock washers or other devicesto provide 21,874,990 Patented Feb. 24, 1959 a pivotal connection about the axis of stud 14 for the respective pairs of links 11 and 12 and the clevis 13. If desired, a connector plate 16 may be welded to both of the facing inner sides of links 12. Further, if desired, a latch portion 17 of a latching mechanism may be secured to a bracket 18 extending from stud 14 between the inner sides of the links 11, the lower end of the bracket 18 being connected thereto by a bolt 19.

A rigid horizontal unitary beam 20 extends to each side of a vertical median plane through the axisofstud 14, the new tongs being generally balanced about that plane and also about a transverse median plane coinciding with the web 21 of beam 20. Beam20 may be an I-beam between the flanges of which rigidifying posts 22 may be welded and on which an upper track plate 23 may also be welded. A lower track plate 24 may be welded to the underside of beam 20. Preferably, lower track plate 24 is provided with a groove 25 extending along the length thereof to insure constant registry and firm operation of respective parts of my new beam tongs in operation.

Atthe center of beam 20, a U-shaped bracket 26 may be welded. A link frame 27 fitting between the sides of bracket 26 is pivotally connected thereto by bolt, 28, the other end of link frame 27 being pivotally connected to the pair of load supporting links 11 by a. bolt 29. It will be seen that the new construction of this tongs is such as to provide againstinfirmity or wobbliness in operation, which in prior practices was sometimes a cause of tongs trouble or failure.

A latch catch or keeper 30 maybe affixed to frame 27 to cooperate with latch mechanism portion 17. As

an example, the members 17 and 30 may comprisean anism, should it be desired to incorporate a latching mechanism my new beam tongs, which may be of -a kind such as that disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,776,857 issued January 8, 1957. In such a latch mec hanism, a latch bolt 17a is provided'with a head 17b to be rotated by opposed angularly offset cam surface's17c and 17a. through respective engagement thereof by a pin 17a, and thereby rotate head 17b on the undersideof keeper 30 which has a slot 30a through which head 17b may pass when it is in the full line position shownin Figure 6 so as to latch following a 'degree rotation tation away from that chain line position. Thus, the deposit of a load after being carried by my new tongs 10 would engage the latch 17 and keeper 30 as: clevis 13 was lowered to open the tongs so that when clevis 13 was next lifted the tongs would remain open, with the latch mechanism engaged as shown by the chain line position of portions thereof in Figure 6, ready for placement on a new load to be carried. As the tongs would be brought to rest on that new lead, the latch 17 would move to a disengagement position relative to the catch 30, so that the very next lifting of the clevis 13 would permit latch 17 and keeper 30 to separate bringing my newtongs 10 to the position shown in Figure 2 with the load engaged and either ready to be carried away or being carried as the casemay be. Such a load 31 formy illustrated embodiment may, for example, be a log which is a load generally of a somewhat irregularly shaped character. Nevertheless it may safely be handled by tongs made in accordance with my invention.

Cooperating with the pair of links 11 is a traveler subassembly 32 which is pivotally connected thereto about the axis of a bolt 33. A similar opposed traveler subassembly 34 cooperates. with the pair of load supporting links 12 to which traveler 34 is connected about the axis of abolt 35. Each traveler comprises spaced am-emu plates 36 outwardly ofb'e'arn 20, the lower ends of such plates forming depending arms 37 and '38 respectively. The sides of each such arm may be connected by a plate 39 welded thereto. r t j Each traveler is provided with a spaced pair of upper rollers 39a adapted to roll on upper track 23. Each roller 39a extends between the plates 36 in each traveler and is supported on a bearing bolt 40, a bushing 41 being positioned between such bolts and the rollers. Locking bars 42 fastened at 43 to the respective plates 36 keep the rollers in place yet permit the removal and replacement thereof whenever maintenance or wear warrants such action. Each traveler moreover is provided with a lower roller 44 journalled on a bolt 45 which is locked in place by nuts 46. The respective lower rollers 44 may be provided with an annular rib 47 to run in groove '25 while the remainder of the roller engages the lower trackf24 to each side of the center of my new tongs when the respective 'travelers 32 and 34 appreach. eachother or are being separated from each other in unison due to the action of the links 11 and End plates 48 may be welded to the respective ends of beam 20 to serve as outer stops, if no other parts are provided which so act such as the optional latch mechanism illustrated in the embodiment shown in the figures. Thereby, the axis of stud 14 preferably remains at all times above a horizontal plane passing through axes of bolts 33 and 35. 1 Similarly, inner stops 49 may be welded to the sides or beam 20 so that if the new tongs 10 is carried without a load and with the travelers in closed position, the angle between the links 11 and 12 may be kept from becoming less than a predetermined minimum.

The upper ends of the pairs of plates 36 in each of the travelers are drilled in registry to provide adjustment holes 50 across the top of each of the travelers. A support bar 51 is welded to each of the plates 36 immediately below the end of the load supporting link connected to tha't plate. Since the pair of links 12 is outwardly of the pair 11, the bars 51 on traveler 34 are on the outer sides of the plates 36' of that traveler 34.

Conversely, the bars 51 on the traveler 32 are on the inner sides of the plates 36in that traveler. The bolts 33 and 35 are each providedwith a head 52 and a grooved or necked portion 53 at the other end thereof. The reduced portion 53 is engaged by a retainer 54 pivotally connected at 55 to sides of the respective pairs of links 11 and 12. Various means to keep the retainer I levers 54 in locking position to secure the bolts 33 and 35 in place may be used. Inthe adjustment position shown in Figures 1 and 2 relative vertical movement of clevis 13 toward beam 20 opens the tongs and separates arms 37- and 38 to provide their maximum opening, Relative vertical movement of clevis 13 away from beam 20 will close the tongs and bring the arms 37 and 38 to their maximum opening relation in closed tongs position unless such inward movement is arrested by engagement of a load 31 as shown in Figure 2.

In the embodiment shown, I provide for extensive adjustment of those openings achievable between the travelers 32 and 34. Thus, if the retainers 54 are lifted out of the grooves 53 in the bolts 33 and 35,- the bolts can readily be withdrawn to enable the lower ends of the respective pairs of links 11 and 12 to be moved into registry with another set of adjustment holes 50 on the respective travelers 32 and 34. The lower ends of the links ,11 may readily be slidalong the bars 51, after bolt 33 is ,such bolts to be readily reinserted in the respective new adjustment positions whereupon the retainers 54 are brought back into locking position inthe grooves 53 to secure "the new construction. The plurality of adjustment positions provided enables'extensive variation to be obtained in respect of the selected opening achievable between the respective travelers for the accommodation of different sizes of loads and/ or services to which my new tongs may be put. Moreover, as the links 11 and 12 are connected to travelers 32 and 34 respectively towards the outer ends of those travelers, the headroom taken up by my new tongs is correspondingly decreased. I

The plates 39 on the respective depending arms and 38 may be pierced for the respective passage of pronged members 57 and 5 8, the rearends of which are respectively threaded for engagement by locking nuts 59 at the back of the plates 39. if desired, an edged gripping cup 60 may be secured either to the respective plates 39 or to the pronged members 57 and 58 for use in the handling of loads like logs where after grippingno revolving oi the load about the axis common to the prongs 57 and 58 is si For the handling of somewhat irregularly shaped loads such as logs, my new beam tongs maybe provided, a s shown'in the illustrated embodiment, with an adjustable rest member, one form of which may take the shape of a saddle 61 having a gable profile in end view withserrations 62 for gripping of the exterior of a load carried by the device 10. Brackets 63 welded to beam 20 may carry vertical sleeves 64 on each side of beam 20 through which posts 65 may slide. The lower ends of the posts 65 may be flanged and, bolted to bosses 74 to connect the saddle portion 61 to the bottom of the four respective posts 65. Stop washers may be bolted to the upper ends of the respective posts 65, if desired, so that even if in the course of adjustment of the rest member subassembly, a workman should lose his hold, the subassembly would not fall out of sleeves 64.

The four respective posts 65 are provided with a series of fore and aft holes 66 at the same elevations. Saddle 61 may be adjusted to a desired height by bringing one set of the holes 66 on each sidev of the center of beam 20 into registry with openings 67 in the four respective sleeves 64. Each pair of sleeves 64 .on each side of the center of beam 20 may have an adjusting pin 68 adapted to extend through the holes 67 and 66 and through a registering opening 69 in web 21, as shown in Figure 5, to maintain saddle 61 at such desired adjusted level. The front sleeves '64 may be provided with auxiliary brackets 70 having registering holes 71 therein for I a cotter or other. locking pin 72 adapted to go through a vertical opening 73 in the shank of the respective pins 68. It is evident that by removing pin 72 each pin 68 can be withdrawn and the entire saddle 61 brought down to a new desired level before the pins are respectively reinserted to lock the rest member in the new adjusted position.

The rest member 61 effects a cooperation with other prongs 57 and 58 can engage the ends of the load 31 in an eccentric manner without concern about rotation of the load 31 about the axis of the prongs due at least in part to the rest member 61 which is in engagement with the periphery of the load, thereby inhibiting likelihood of relative movement between load and tongs whieh might othe'rwis e be the cause of detrimental, imbalance or even damage or hazard to persons or property. Further, the restmember 61 cooperates with any latching mechanism, such as mechanism 17 and 30, that may be utilized with my tongs.

Various modifications may be made in details of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a beam tongs, in combination, a unitary horizontal beam, a pair of parallel links extending downwardly and outwardly toward one side of said beam, a second pair of parallel links extending downwardly and outwardly toward the other side of said beam, the spacing of said links in each of said pairs being approximately equal to the width of said beam, said respective pairs of links being pivotally connected at the upper ends thereof, a traveler surrounding each side of said beam, said travelers having side plates adjacent the respective sides of said beam, a pair of rollers extending between said side plates in each of said travelers, said pair of rollers being adapted to roll along the top of said beam to each side thereof, a bottom roller extending between said side plates in each of said travelers, each of said bottom rollers being adapted to roll along a grooved track on the underside of said beam to each side thereof, the lower ends of each of said pairs of links being'above said beam and respectively adjacent the pair of side plates in the respective travelers, means for adjustably connecting the lower ends of said pairs of links to the respective travelers across the tops of said respective travelers to vary'the opening between said travelers, opposed load clamping means mounted on said travelers beneath said beam, a load engaging rest positioned beneath said beam between said travelers, vertical post members slidably mounted relative to said beam, means for adjusting the height of said rest beneath said beam, a link frame extending between one of said pairs of links and said beam to maintain said pairs of links in laterally balanced positional relation, and parts of a latching mechanism respectively mounted on said last-mentioned pair of links and said link frame for alternative latching and unlatching operation of said tongs.

2. In a beam tongs, in combination, downwardly and outwardly extending load-supporting links, said links being respectively pivotally connected adjacent the upper ends thereof, a clevis pivotally connected to said links about the axis of said first-named pivotal connection, a horizontal beam extending generally in the direction of the path of movement of the lower ends of said links, a member pivotally connected between said links and beam to maintain said links in laterally balanced positional relation, opposed travelers engaging the respective sides of said beam, said travelers being constrained to move along said beam, the top portions of said travelers each having a support for the lower ends of said links and further being pivotally connected to said links adjacent the lower ends thereof, depending arms on said travelers, prong members on said respective arms in opposed relation to engage a load when said clevis is lifted bringing said links and thereby said travelers toward one another along said beam, rest means mounted on said beam centrally thereof and having a portion extending beneath said beam to rest on a load to be engaged or disengaged 3. In a beam tongs, in combination, downwardly and outwardly extending connecting links, said connecting links being respectively pivotally connected adjacent the upper ends thereof, a clevis pivotally connected to said links about an axis coincident with the axis of said firstnamed pivotal connection, a unitary horizontal beam extending generally in the direction of the plane of said links, opposed travelers engaging the respective sides of said beam, said travelers being constrained to move along said beam, said travelers further being pivotally connected to said links adjacent the lower ends of said links and the upper parts of said travelers above said beam, rigid frame means pivotally connected between said beam and said links to maintain said links in laterally balanced positional relation, load engaging members on said respective travelers in opposed relation to engage a load when said clevis is lifted bringing said travelers toward one another along said beam, stop means on said beam for limiting the extreme extent of movement between said travelers, and means for adjusting the maximum opening distance between said travelers by respectively shifting said pivotal connections between said travelers and said links.

4. In a beam tongs, in combination, pivotally connected links extending away from one another, means for carrying said tongs and for moving said pivotal connection, a rigid unitary beam extending to each side of said pivotal connection, opposed travelers to run on the top and bottom of each side of said beam, means pivotally and removably connecting said links to said travelers above said beam, said travelers being moved toward and away from each other by said links, said last-mentioned means including a plurality of laterally-spaced alternatively useable pivotal connection means and a support member positioned adjacent such pivotal connection means, and load engaging members on said respective travelers in opposed relation to engage a load when said first-named means is lifted away relative to said beam.

5. In a beam tongs, in combination, a beam, at least one link extending downwardly and outwardly toward one side of said beam, at least one second link extending downwardly and outwardly toward the other side of said beam, said links being pivotally connected together adjacent the upper ends thereof respectively, a roller traveler engaging each side of said beam and adapted to travel therealong in correspondence with the movement of said respective links, the lower ends of said links being respectively pivotally connected to said travelers adjacent the upper part of said travelers and said beam, 9. frame member pivotally connecting said links and said beam respectively to maintain said links in laterally balanced positional relation, and opposed load clamping means carried by said travelers below said beam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,730,519 McKee Oct. 8, 1929 1,839,389 Heppenstall Jan. 5, 1932 2,040,574 Sutclitfe May 12, 1936 2,076,204 Martin Apr. 6, 1937 2,120,639 Buente June 14, 1938 2,702,114 Jensen Feb. 15, 1955 2,705,659 Barchotr Apr. 5, 1955 2,718,320 Nelson et al Sept. 20, 1955 2,776,857 Heppenstall Jan. 8, 1957 

